I'm going to compile the guidelines for testing each portable app for the Testing Team and I'm looking for group input. Basically, it'll be:
- Verify PortableApps.com Format followed with links to the Spec
- Verify no changes to local registry using Regshot (as admin, limited and guest user)
- Verify no files or directories left behind in APPDATA or Windows directories using Regshot or WinMerge (as admin, limited and guest user)
- Verify that settings are maintained as the drive letter changes (with instructions on how to force a change on your own PC)
- Verify that most recently used file lists and directories referenced in settings are changed as the drive letter changes
- Verify that files are appropriately compressed using the App Compactor without compressing files that should not be (MS C runtimes, for example)
- Verify that the app switches languages with the new platform language environment variables with tools to check this
- Verify that app functions as admin, limited and guest user and note what fails (note that some apps will only work as admin like JkDefrag and some have certain features that only work as admin like GnuCash's online banking)
Is there anything that should be added to this list?
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All the above as Admin and Limited user
Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?
Good point. I added guest as well.
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I don't see anything missing, so I'd say it's all good.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
double-check the appicon.ico for all the right icons, and all extra files (like the help file and readme) have correct references.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
I would also have them check the licences
I'll be glad to help with this as well.
FYI, Vita home premium and Xp home SP3, both admin, can created limited accounts and has access to locked down school computers year round (portableapps works on them)
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One thing about the Specs:
In a comment you said that the DefaultData folder is optional, maybe you'll want to add that to the main post.
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Never heard if Regshot, but I'm guessing by the name it's a snapshot tool, AKA a state-saving tool. Process Monitor is a different type of tool which can track registry changes in real time by a specific process, and then display a summary for you. Might be a bit more useful and detailed, as it'll give you a running history of process actions with full search support as well.
Also for command line junkies, it's a lot faster to change a drive letter with the mountvol.exe tool than to use the MMC interface. Just a little tip there.
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This looks great, but shouldn't this be stickied?
This is an RFC. The final list will be in the Development section.
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I think that app should maintain full path portability.
"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov
Many apps use elements outside of their own directory or different methods to achieve relative paths. Having an app self-contained and maintaining everything when the whole path changes is a nice extra and should be done if it is not a lot of extra work but it is not required for release. The platform and apps are designed to be installed to X:\PortableApps and then move between PCs or to be installed directly to C:\PortableApps.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!